Two days before the start of the US Open Dominic Thiem showed himself in good form and well recovered from health problems. In an interview with the APA in New York, the ninth in the World Ranking List spoke about his missed season since the French Open Final, why he himself would never get a “super coach” and his problems with jet lag.
Question: In training it looks very good again. Were you afraid after the Cincinnati cancellation that the US Open might not end?
Dominic Thiem: No, there was still enough time. In Toronto, I made the mistake of playing the game, which wasn’t so bad in the end. But the body has it just once again beaten together. Then I started training again in Cincinnati because I was already better. It was too early again in retrospect. Then I quickly decided that I would cancel singles and doubles in Cincinnati. But at that time there were 12, 13 days left until the start of the US Open.
Question: What exactly were the symptoms?
Thiem: I was generally not well. I had the virus and fever and for the first time a urinary tract infection. So somehow the whole immune system was completely destroyed, but then I really did nothing for five or six days and the body recovered. Since I started here, it’s been completely normal from the beginning.
Question: You have often suffered from illnesses, especially after longer flights and time zone changes such as to Australia or Asia. Is there a deeper reason for this?
Thiem: In general my body is extremely healthy, but I am already susceptible to such things. I also have much more to fight with jet lag than other people. What happened now was a mistake I made after Roland Garros, because I continued playing right away. That I didn’t pull out of Halle (grass court tournament in Paris, note), then I didn’t lower my body, but continued immediately. I never fully recovered. What happened now was just the result of it.
Question: Injury in Wimbledon, only three victories in five tournaments, a certain streak of bad luck – now you are under pressure to stay in the top ten.
Thiem: It’s not really a losing streak because I brought it on myself. A lot of people also told me to take it easy right after the Paris finale. I was just in a euphoria, as it is after the first Grand Slam finale. I didn’t listen to it, and that’s why I got myself into this. In Hamburg and Kitz there was a bit of bad luck and Wimbledon was beaten up anyway. I haven’t played a single tournament well since the French Open, and I just hope that I can make a U-turn there. If not, I’m out of the top ten. If that happens, there’s nothing I can do.
Question: After three rounds of sixteen in four US Open the goals are certainly higher. But first it needs a good start, right?
Thiem: I definitely want to get into the tournament. But I feel really good. The training was very good and I always have a really good feeling when I come to New York. I love playing there, it’s my favorite grand slam. I think nothing stands in the way of a relatively good tournament.
Question: You’re playing against Basic for the first time: the first days of the tournament will be very hot.
Thiem: I saw him against Djokovic in Toronto. He serves well, plays a lot forward. It’s an okay ticket for round one. It’s never bad if you can keep it shorter. But I’m playing the fourth game anyway, and the heat is over.
Question: You trained with the former superstar at John McEnroe’s Academy. How was the experience?
Thiem: It was really cool with him. He said he could play for half an hour, in the end it’s almost one and a half. We both really liked it.
Question: Alexander Zverev got one of the McEnroe generation on the team and hired Ivan Lendl as “super coach”. What is your opinion? Can you imagine ever adding such an old star to your team?
Thiem: I don’t think so. Not me personally. I would say that Lendl is the only coach who has really done and proven something with (Andy) Murray. With all due respect, Edberg hasn’t done very much with Federer.
Question: And Boris Becker at Novak Djokovic?
Thiem: I don’t know how much he did. But I think you can put some grandmother in the box with such players and they will always go far in Grand Slam tournaments. I’m not going with the hype now. But the Lendl is different, because he really helped Murray, he will surely be a really good help to Zverev. In any case, it’s only a matter of time before he gets really far in a Grand Slam. If it happens there, the hype with the super coaches continues, if not, then not.
Question: In the first three Grand Slams the “Old Ones” won with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Is it time for the new generation here?
Thiem (laughs): I’m honest: If it’s not me, I hope it’s one of the three that have already won. I’m not keeping my fingers crossed for anyone in any particular way.
Question: Except perhaps your girlfriend, Kiki Mladenovic, with the ladies. . .
Thiem (laughs): Yeah, Kiki might, but she can’t overtake me.
Question: And with the gentlemen?
Thiem: Most likely I would keep my fingers crossed for Nadal to make the Grand Slam records exciting again.